Rural round-up

As the country’s front-line export sector, NZ agriculture is bearing the brunt of the global trade slowdown. ANZ Bank’s chief economist Sharon Zollner says the human and economic damage from the Covid-19 outbreak is taking a heavy toll on sentiment in the agriculture sector.

“Our best hope is that the disruption proves short-lived but there is not question the export-oriented sector is reeling”.

Authorities such as Keith Woodford believe NZ, as well as most of the world, will head into recession. Woodford contends the key issue becomes rapid support for those who lose their employment.

He sees a “considerable risk” that the government and Reserve Bank will use the wrong macro tools. . .

The present has caught up with AgResearch’s Future Footprint plans which are now a thing of the past. It is now going it alone at Lincoln but collaborating with Massey University in Palmerston North and will keep its centres at Ruakura and Invermay. Neal Wallace reports.

AGRESEARCH has abandoned elements of its Future Footprint proposal begun eight years ago and will keep its four national campuses but expand two.

The original plan was to severely downsize its Invermay campus near Dunedin and Ruakura in Hamilton with the focus on centres at Lincoln and Palmerston North.

Acting chief executive Tony Hickmott says the plan now is to retain all four sites and construct new buildings at Palmerston North, which is under way, and Lincoln. . .